Combined switch and switch-box



1 (No Model.) 2 SheetQ-Sheet 1.

- A. L. ROHRER.

COMBINED SWITCH AND SWITCH BOX. No. 468,474. Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

| H p s a Cg! II! \A/ITNEEEIEE- [Pk/EN TEH=\ VWXMOL QflfuJ/flW (NoModel.) 2 Sheets Sheet 2. V A. L. ROHRER. I COMBINED SWITCH ANDSWITGHBOX. No. 468,474. Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

O i L I ll ; UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT L. ROHRER, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMSON- vHOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

AND SWITCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,474, dated February9, 1892.

Application filed December 2, 1890.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

I Be it known that I, ALBERT L. ROHRER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn,

county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in a Combined Switch and Switch- Box, of whichthe following is a specification.

The primary object of my present invention is to secure a box or casingfor an elec tric switch mechanism, fuses, circuit-terminals, &c., whichshall be as near as possible water-tight and yet allow the switch to beoperated freely from the exterior of the box.- I therefore make use of abox closed by a cover fitted water-tight, and the actuating part of theswitch, together with the necessary circuit-wires leading to thetranslating devices and from the feeding-mains, pass into the boxthrough specially-constructed joints, which are designed to prevent theentrance of Water.

Theinvention further consists in certain details of construction, suchas improvements in the switch itself, and the relative arrangement ofthe parts.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is aperspective view of the complete box ready for use. Fig. 2 is asectional view taken through the center of the box and showing,principally, the means for rendering it impervious to water. Fig. 3 is aplan view of the box with cover removed and detail parts in section, andFigs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the socket by which the electricalconnection with the working circuit is maintained.

In the views, B represents a box, of metal, such as brass or iron, openat the top and provided at one end with small openings admitting theentering circuit-wires a b. A metal cover or lid C is held down upon thebox by screws 8, and to make the joint between the cover and box asnearly watertight as possible there is interposed a piece R of rubber orother elastic water-repellent material, which when compressed forms ahermetic seal between the lid and box.

K is a handle for throwing the switch from the outside of the box, and Sis a socket of special construction, hereinafter described, serving as aconnector between the box-terminals and working-circuit wires.

Serial No. 373,332. (No model.)

Referring now to Fig. 2, the socket S -is shown made in two parts K L,of hard rubberor other like material possessing sufficient strength andinsulating qualities, which are 5 5 adapted to be screwed together.Through the and thus makes a perfectly water-tight joint.

The socket is attached to the cover of the box by a metal nut D, whichscrews down over a boss F, rising from the cover. A flange upon theupper side of the nut fits closely into an annular recess cut in thehard-rubber piece L, and under the flange is placed a hard-rubber cap G,fastened to L by a screw Z. Hence by simply screwing up the nut D thesocket is drawn firmly down upon the boss F, and here againa washer ofsoft rubber m will usually be interposed to guard against any possibleleakage into the box. The wires 0 cl, leading to the lamps or otherworking resistance, divide at about the middle of the socket and passdown the two diverging ways therein to the terminals, connected withcontactposts P P, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. Then the socket is inposition, these Contact-posts enter holes Q Q in the box-terminals N N,which, as seen in Fig. 3, are fastened to an insulating-block S -as, forexample, slate or porcelain-which is in turn secured by screws to thebox at s. v Soft-rubber sleeves surround the posts between terminals N Nand cap G. A second piece of similar insulating material S is fixed inthe inside of the box by screws 3 and upon this are fastenedfuse-terminals and a switch mechanism constructed as follows: Threepieces of brass Q Q Q are screwed to the insulating-block S and to twoof these Q Q are attached spring-contacts Z Z which bear withconsiderable pressure against the working faces of an insulatingcam-shaped disk D preferably of hard rubber. The disk is mounted upon aspindle X, extending out through the cover of the box and operated by ahandle K. It is notched at e e, and from these points thespring-contacts snap, in a manner well known, into engagement with aback thereon, if desired.

metal piece 19, extending across the disk and designed to complete thecircuit from one contact to the other. A second set of notches e e serveto insure a quick rupturing of the circuit in the same manner. The metalpiece 19 is held down upon the disk by a washer d and nut n both ofwhich are seen in Fig. 2.

To make a tight joint where the spindle X passes through the box, thereis provided a brass bushing H, held down by a nut T, which screws downover a second boss F on the cover. The knob K screws upon the upper endof the spindle and can be made to turn The entering wires a b are sealedinto the box by a joint somewhat similar to that already described inconnection with the wires 0 cl. The metal of the box where the wirespass through is thickened and tapered inwardly, and a conical-shapedrubber bushing M, surrounding each wire, fits the opening in the box,and is compressed therein by a nut Z, working against a collarf, whichin turn bears upon the washer M and forces it into the wedge openingleft in the box. The path of the current may be traced from a throughplate Q, fuse T terminal N, contact-post P, the working circuit, post P,terminal N, fuse T plate Q the switch-contacts, and out at b. It willthus be seen that a perfectly water-tight box is provided for containingthe switch, fuses, circuit-terminals, &c., the parts of which can bequickly removed-as, for instance, for the insertion of new fuses ormaking of connections. It has been designed especially with reference touse upon shipboard. The box is fastened to the deck of the vessel or inany other position by screws passing through holes Q" in the box, whichare closed when the lid is put in place, thus preventing rusting of thescrews. An indicator 1, Fig. 1, outside of the box shows the position ofthe switch, and as the wearing-surfaces on the conducting-plate p arecomparatively short as compared with the insulating-faces of the diskthe position of the indicator will tell accurately the condition of thecircuit.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a switch-box, the switch-contacts inclosedtherein, but actuated by a handle outside the box, a cover secured tothe box, elastic water-repellent sealing material interposed between thecover and box, and elastic bushings sealing the circuit-wires andswitch-handle where they enter the box, as set forth.

2. The combination of the box, terminals therein, a socket carryingterminals engaging with aforesaid terminals, and a clamping-nut engagingby annular flanges and screw-joint connections with the socket andcover.

3. A socket provided with terminals and circuit-wires and made in two ormore parts inclosing a washer compressed around the circuit-wires toform a tight joint when the parts of the socket are put together, forthe purpose set forth.

4:. The combination of the closed box containing an electric switch withan electric wire leading thereinto, a cone-shaped elastic bushing, and anut pressing the bnshinginto the joint between the wire and box, as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand this 28th day ofNovember, 1890.

ALBERT L. ROI-IRER.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. GIBBONEY, JOHN T. BRoDERIcK.

